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223 walkabout rifle


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Right then, FEO's been out and approved my 223 #2. I have a Howa 1500 Thumbhole Varmint right now and it's a great rifle but it's range only really, too heavy for walking about with.

 

I have a limited budget which means I can afford a rifle and a scope but not a new moderator. So.. I need to get hold of a rifle that will shoot 55gr ammo well, is relatively light and can be carried for an evening's lamping without leaving me with a sore back the next day. It needs to be cut 5/8 or 1/2 UNF because I have moderators with those threads.

 

Thus far the usual two suspects of Remington SPS and Tikka T3. Like the tikka but I need to get it cut and it's not cheap. SPS is OK but has 24" barrel which puts me off a touch. However, they are often cut 1/2 UNF so that would work.

 

There's always a light barrel Howa but my current one doesn't shoot the el cheapo ammo brilliantly (I know it's rubbish but Deker's T3 puts it into an inch at a hundred) so that puts me off the Howa.

 

The other option is another Varmint style, since they tend to have a fast twist and thus 55gr should be right within the acceptable range, not at one end as it is with 1:12. CZ's Varmint Laminate or Kevlar are heavy-ish but nowhere near the 10lbs of my Howa, and I would get the barrel chopped to 22" anyway.

 

And the other option I've come across is a Remington SPS tactical, which the gun shop reckons is OK because it's got a short barrel and is reasonably compact - does anyone have one of these and carry it for an evening at a time?

 

Any other recommendations? Cheers muchly :)

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Right then, FEO's been out and approved my 223 #2. I have a Howa 1500 Thumbhole Varmint right now and it's a great rifle but it's range only really, too heavy for walking about with.

 

I have a limited budget which means I can afford a rifle and a scope but not a new moderator. So.. I need to get hold of a rifle that will shoot 55gr ammo well, is relatively light and can be carried for an evening's lamping without leaving me with a sore back the next day. It needs to be cut 5/8 or 1/2 UNF because I have moderators with those threads.

 

Thus far the usual two suspects of Remington SPS and Tikka T3. Like the tikka but I need to get it cut and it's not cheap. SPS is OK but has 24" barrel which puts me off a touch. However, they are often cut 1/2 UNF so that would work.

 

There's always a light barrel Howa but my current one doesn't shoot the el cheapo ammo brilliantly (I know it's rubbish but Deker's T3 puts it into an inch at a hundred) so that puts me off the Howa.

 

The other option is another Varmint style, since they tend to have a fast twist and thus 55gr should be right within the acceptable range, not at one end as it is with 1:12. CZ's Varmint Laminate or Kevlar are heavy-ish but nowhere near the 10lbs of my Howa, and I would get the barrel chopped to 22" anyway.

 

And the other option I've come across is a Remington SPS tactical, which the gun shop reckons is OK because it's got a short barrel and is reasonably compact - does anyone have one of these and carry it for an evening at a time?

 

Any other recommendations? Cheers muchly :)

 

ive got the Remington SPS tactical, 223 1 in 9 twist shoots 55 gr with a ASE ULTRA S SERIES plus bypod i carry it for an evening with no probs at all

 

W.D

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Hmm... definitely in top spot then! SPS tactical near-ish to here at a sensible price, soon as I get my ticket i will go have a butcher's...

 

jamie g was there when we was setting the gun up at the time i was told in the gun shop to buy 50 gr rem it fuxked me right up they were goin everywhere my confidence dropped then i was given 55gr fedaral power shok what a difference they made 4in balloons 300 mts no probs

 

W.D

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There's one at Adenbourne, 550 odd I think they want but it's cut 5/8 so I can put my Predator on it :)

 

Not sure about, or why, a 5/8 cut!?!? Nothing wrong with it of course but why????

 

Edgar Bros get these cut in the UK as 1/2 inch, then send out to dealers. So where did 5/8 come from???

 

If you are interested or concerned about it..... the OLD trigger is grooved to the finger.....the NEW X Mark Pro Trigger (or whatever they call it) is smooth. So it's easy to tell when you pick the gun up which trigger you have.

 

Neither trigger will win any quality awards but the new one is meant to be a distinct improvement, and too be fair, having dry fired it in the dealers a few times it seems "OK" to me!

 

:thumbs:

 

EDIT

The 5/8 cut by Edgar bros is on the HEAVY barrel, is that what you are looking at! "Walkabout" rifle??????

Edited by Deker
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Hmm... definitely in top spot then! SPS tactical near-ish to here at a sensible price, soon as I get my ticket i will go have a butcher's...

 

jamie g was there when we was setting the gun up at the time i was told in the gun shop to buy 50 gr rem it fuxked me right up they were goin everywhere my confidence dropped then i was given 55gr fedaral power shok what a difference they made 4in balloons 300 mts no probs

 

W.D

 

yes i was there and its a very nice rifle with the federal ammo it was spot on. keith had 3 foxes that night with it of the 1st time of shooting the rifle his confidence was sky high after. and when he gets his top end swaro scope on it

what a foxing tool he has there then.

 

i hope on my 1st nights foxing with my new rifle i can get that total i would be over the moon :thumbs:

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There's one at Adenbourne, 550 odd I think they want but it's cut 5/8 so I can put my Predator on it :)

 

Not sure about, or why, a 5/8 cut!?!? Nothing wrong with it of course but why????

 

Edgar Bros get these cut in the UK as 1/2 inch, then send out to dealers. So where did 5/8 come from???

 

If you are interested or concerned about it..... the OLD trigger is grooved to the finger.....the NEW X Mark Pro Trigger (or whatever they call it) is smooth. So it's easy to tell when you pick the gun up which trigger you have.

 

Neither trigger will win any quality awards but the new one is meant to be a distinct improvement, and too be fair, having dry fired it in the dealers a few times it seems "OK" to me!

 

:thumbs:

 

EDIT

The 5/8 cut by Edgar bros is on the HEAVY barrel, is that what you are looking at! "Walkabout" rifle??????

 

Hmm... well... Adenbourne said that as the SPS Tactical is a short barrel, it's actually fine for weight and balance with a moderator, even vs. a normal SPS. The quoted weight is 2+lbs lighter than the Howa and it's a much smaller platform too, so we shall see.

 

And as WD says he's got one doing the job initial indications are good. Of course, if I prefer the SPS that's not a problem either, as they're 1/2 UNF and I have my ASE for that.

 

They've got both so when I get my ticket back I shall head over there (was going to go yesterday but hungover and didn't feel like it :D)

 

But I might well get a Tikka and chop the barrel and have it cut. Too many choices here!!

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There's one at Adenbourne, 550 odd I think they want but it's cut 5/8 so I can put my Predator on it :)

 

Not sure about, or why, a 5/8 cut!?!? Nothing wrong with it of course but why????

 

Edgar Bros get these cut in the UK as 1/2 inch, then send out to dealers. So where did 5/8 come from???

 

If you are interested or concerned about it..... the OLD trigger is grooved to the finger.....the NEW X Mark Pro Trigger (or whatever they call it) is smooth. So it's easy to tell when you pick the gun up which trigger you have.

 

Neither trigger will win any quality awards but the new one is meant to be a distinct improvement, and too be fair, having dry fired it in the dealers a few times it seems "OK" to me!

 

:thumbs:

 

EDIT

The 5/8 cut by Edgar bros is on the HEAVY barrel, is that what you are looking at! "Walkabout" rifle??????

 

Hmm... well... Adenbourne said that as the SPS Tactical is a short barrel, it's actually fine for weight and balance with a moderator, even vs. a normal SPS. The quoted weight is 2+lbs lighter than the Howa and it's a much smaller platform too, so we shall see.

 

And as WD says he's got one doing the job initial indications are good. Of course, if I prefer the SPS that's not a problem either, as they're 1/2 UNF and I have my ASE for that.

 

They've got both so when I get my ticket back I shall head over there (was going to go yesterday but hungover and didn't feel like it :D)

 

But I might well get a Tikka and chop the barrel and have it cut. Too many choices here!!

 

 

According to Mr Remington 2008, the SPS Tactical weighs 7.5lb. The Normal SPS blue weighs 7.00lb, and the stainless weighs 7.25lb.

 

The Tikka T3 Lite weighs between 6.00-63/8 lb. The T3 Hunter only weighs between 6.75-7lb

 

The Rem SPS Tactical is not a heavy gun, but it sure as heck isn't light either!

 

How much do those light barrel Howas weigh, they seem ok and a decent price!?!? :thumbs:

 

It may not sound much but the extra 1-1.5lb makes a bucket load of difference after carting it around the fields for a few hours with grass above your waist!!

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The lighter Howas are still 7.4lbs. tbh I think the SPS tactical will handle better because it has a short barrel.

 

I've just put my MTC scope back on the 223, out to zero in a mo. One thing that struck me is that the size and length of barrel of the Howa are a problem, when I add the moderator. Without the moderator I think I could cope with it.

 

My Howa weighs 9 3/8 lbs, so whichever rifle I get will be an improvement. I am also thinking of the CZs still; they are quoted as being lightish - the Varmint Kevlar is 7.5 and would come down with the 4 inches of barrel I would get lopped off it.

 

Tbh, if I could find a Tikka T3 with 1/2 UNF I'd have that I think - fast twist, light and accurate. Do me nicely. However, that being tricky the SPS tactical might fit the bill. Would also mean I can potentially sell the Howa to get a 308 rifle, but that's a way off (next month knowing me ;))

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The lighter Howas are still 7.4lbs. tbh I think the SPS tactical will handle better because it has a short barrel.

 

I've just put my MTC scope back on the 223, out to zero in a mo. One thing that struck me is that the size and length of barrel of the Howa are a problem, when I add the moderator. Without the moderator I think I could cope with it.

 

My Howa weighs 9 3/8 lbs, so whichever rifle I get will be an improvement. I am also thinking of the CZs still; they are quoted as being lightish - the Varmint Kevlar is 7.5 and would come down with the 4 inches of barrel I would get lopped off it.

 

Tbh, if I could find a Tikka T3 with 1/2 UNF I'd have that I think - fast twist, light and accurate. Do me nicely. However, that being tricky the SPS tactical might fit the bill. Would also mean I can potentially sell the Howa to get a 308 rifle, but that's a way off (next month knowing me ;))

 

 

Several Tikka in .223 about apparently..

 

http://www.guntrader.co.uk/OldSearch/

 

inclubing your mates in Oxford..and Tony in Swindon, etc, etc...

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I've seen the Tikkas on there, but they're either not cut or cut M14x1 which is a right pain :(

 

Gotta decide whether I can be bothered to get one cut because I can't afford a new moderator unless I can get someone to do me a deal... My plan was to go to Adenbourne and have a look at both, the SPS Tactical would be great if the balance and weight are OK. My worry with the Tikka is the balance of the Lite, even with inches of barrel missing. But, yours is pretty good now, just a little bit front heavy, so worth a look. Wait and see I think...

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if you can take a look at a remington model SEVEN comes in 20 in barrel 1 in 12 twist should manage 55g bullets fine mines does 1in at 100 yards no bother you might need to get it screwcut but i got mine in synthetic with stainless barrel in 223 cal for 400 ,cheers stuart

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I have the cz varmint laminated with bipod.t8 and a nightforce scope..Shoots 1/2 inch allday with factory hornady ammo...

Its not too bad as a carry gun and is well balanced when taking a shot standing...A fox at 100 yds standing is no hassle..I can imagine taking 3-4 inches off the barrel would turn it into a superb carry gun. And even better if no mod was used..

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